Venus in Fur, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s lusty 1870 novel Venus in Furs, has inspired a song, two movies and a Broadway play. Now, that sexually charged play – a runaway hit on Broadway last year – is coming to Vancouver.

Written (and modernized) by David Ives, Venus in Fur revolves around a young actress and a director. In the Arts Club Theatre’s production, Lindsey Angell stars as Vanda, who wants to land the lead in the new play Venus in Fur. Vincent Gale is Thomas, the play’s demanding writer-director. But when Vanda’s audition turns into an erotically charged game, the play begins delving into sexual politics, power struggles and the hierarchies within theatre itself.

The play is quick-witted, seductive and funny – no wonder it was the hit of last year’s Broadway season. The comedy was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play, and won newcomer Nina Arianda the Tony Award for Best Actress.

Nina Arianda in Venus in Fur Broadway. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

David Mackay, director of the Vancouver version, promises lots of sexual content, and more.

“Many of us spend a lot of time thinking about sex. Safe to say, this play is not going to detract from that,” he is quoted in a press release. “However, audiences might also think about gender, power, and desire.”

Besides the play, Venus in Fur inspired a Velvet Underground Song (“Venus in Furs”) and a 1969 supernatural thriller directed by Jesse Franco. Most recently, Roman Polanski turned it into a 2013 movie starring his wife Emmanuelle Seigner.

The source material, von Sacher-Masoch’s novel, was decried at the time of its publication as scandalous. From Oct. 3 – Nov. 2, audiences can judge for themselves what remains scandalous in the 21st century – and what is normal.

Inside Vancouver is a multi-author blog, written by Vancouverites about Vancouver. Our goal is to give an insider’s view of Vancouver, to provide information, stories and opinions from the locals’ perspective about this great city.